Towel-rack.



- C. L. HENNING.

TOWEL RACK. APPLICATION manna. 8, 1915.

Patented June 13; 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH co.. WASHINGTON D c 0. L. HENNING.

TOWEL RACK.

APPLICATION man FEB. 8. 1915.

Patented J mile 13, 1916.

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rowan-Rack.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- 'PatentedJune 13, 1916.

Application filed February 8, 1915. Serial No. 6,783.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. HENNING, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towel-Racks, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as towel racks, and relates particularly to a device for containing a plurality of individual towels of the desired size, which towels are locked in the rack so as to prevent the unauthorized removal of the same, and consequent loss, by theft or otherwise. i 7

My invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, convenient,-efiicient, durable, and satisfactory, for use wherever found applicable. v o

It has also among its objects the production of a deviceparticularly suitable for towel supply houses furnishing regular service, wherein the desired number of towels are regularly furnished to the consumer, usually the one supplying the towels keep ing them laundried and renewed. Likewise, the towels are confined to the particular use intended, and cannot be removed for other purposes, thereby unduly soiling or ruining the towels.

Other objects ofthe construction will appear to those skilled in'the art to which the invention belongs.

' To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein" shown and described,

andmore particularly pointed out in the claims. 7 7

In the drawlngs, wherem llke reference 7 characters indicatev like or corresponding Figure 1 is a front elevationv of-myparts, device, a portion cut away to more clearly show the construction; Fig. 2=is a perspec tive view of one part of the preferred clamping member; Fig. 3 is a similar view of another cooperating part; Fig. 41 is a similar view of another cooperating part; Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the device, taken substantially on line 5, 5' of Fig. 1; Fig. 6

is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6, 6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a view'in elevation of the locking mechanism, taken substantially online 7, 7 of Fig. 6.

Before entering into a detailed description of the parts it may be said that the device comprises in the. preferred form, a suitable case or ca inet, in which may be looked a suitabletowel' container or clamp, in'which the desired number of towels maybe securely locked. ,The casing may be of any preferred style and ofany suitable material.

As shown, it consistsof a back 1, and suitable sides 2, the front being preferably closed by a door 8, hinged as may be" found most convenient, preferablyto. one of the sides of thecase. I have shown only a few towels in the case, and these are of such length that theymay be clamped or locked in the middle, and both ends used. While" the parts are ordinarily'made to fit the particular size oftowel desired, the same will carry any smaller towel regardless of the size, and clamp the same at the ends or between the ends. r

. The towels aresecured-in a clamp, comprising parts 10, 15 and 20. Part 10 is sub-, stantially set ends 11, preferably perforated in one or more places oneach side, as at 12, and is provided with supporting pins or extensions 14, one oneach end. fPart 15 is formed with. an offset at 16 between the ends, and with a lug or extension 17 arranged to engage the part 10inone of the-holes 12. It is also provided with a lug orextension 18, or the equivalent, and with apart 19, or its equiv- U-shaped, beingformed' with offd alent, having a hole therethrough. The part 20 is formed with a lug or extension 21 at one endfor engagement with the hole 12 at the opposite end of part 10, and isv also formed with'apertures 22 and 23 for the reception of the parts 18 and 19 on part 15. The partsassembled are most clearlyshown in Fig. .6. The towels are clamped between part 10-and the parts 15 and 20, and securely locked in position by a padlock 38, or equivalent sealing or locking device,engaging in the-part 19 on the outer side of part 20. 5 The particular holes 12.12 engaged by the extensions 17 and 21 depend upon thenumber of towelstobecarried, it being understood that the clamp maybeconstructed to receive any desired number of towels, as for example, 7 5, 100 or more. By offsetting the parts l5 and 20, as most clearly shown'in Fig. 6, when the towels are positioned, and the parts sprung and locked-intopositlon, the towels are substantially.v clamped throughout their width, and secured in place in such a manner that it is practically impossible to removethem without cutting the towels. Likewise, owing to'the engagement of the ends, in 17 and 21 with thepartsjor extensions 11,

the cabinet, manner.

*P c Ys WS 2 adapted to extend through I Wl1ere the towels are arranged to be used atboth ends, as shown inthe drawings, they are clamped substantially in the middle, and

V all of the ends hung either to thefront or to 4 the. back, as

shown. to the back. -.The user then drawsa t'owel down, for example the end .5 at the front,and'wipes his hands or face/jThe next user drawsone end of towel .6, etc. This is continued, until the other end I ofv the towelis used, so that each clean towel may be used twice.- 7 V noted'that the thickness or ,width of the It, will; be I particularly clam-p separates the soiledandiclean towels,

' and under no circumstances can any but the lower or innerclean toweljpossibly contact with the soiled towels. V

The'towel may be secured or locked within or. its equivalent, in any. desired As shown, I preferably provide brackets 24 and 25,.arranged t engage with thelugsle of partlO, and suitably support the same. As' shown,.brac ket 24 is'secured in being understood that any other securing'means may be employed.

The, parts are both preferably ofl'set as at 26 atthelo'werf end, so that the ends of pins 14:

'do not bind on the cabinet. To permit the ready rem oval" of the clamp only by one authorized to remove it,I-detachably secure bracket 25 to side wall 2, and; ple means for locking it inplace. As shown,-

provide sima plate; 29 is secured to the sidewalls by screWs30, or the equivalent, the same being providedwith lugs 31 for guiding the part 25 and maintainingit in position. Part 25 is formed with an extending lugor post 32 a suitable opening or hole in plate 29, and 'beengaged'by a locking memberf33. In the construction shown, member 33 is arranged w in'the form 1 of a cam, andis adapted to engage in a slot provided for limitingthe V cm locking member shifted or partially rotated to release pin 32 or groove in the pin 32. A stop 34 is also movement ofthe Member 33 may be inanylsuitable manner, a post 35 being provided for this purpose. A' key (not shown) or its equivalent, may befinserted through the opening 36, so'as to'engage the post 35,

' androtateathe cam to release the parts.

clamp.

While any equivalent locking mechanism.

may be employed, that shown is extremely simple and inexpensive, and cannot beepert by Pl e In use, assumingthat all the towels in the cabinet have been soiled, and itis desiredfto au-shaped part, a cooperating one end secured to one extending leg of the or the like, to release the replenish the same, the supply man inserts his key through the opening 86, and unlocks the bracket 25, so that the clamping member may be removed and a new one provided with the desired number of clean towels inserted. The bracket is then again'locked in place, securing'the towels in the cabinet. Thetowels may be placed in the clamps at the supply house or at the laundry, as the case maybe, and at this time they may be counted.- This facilitates thedelivery of a clean supply, avoids mistakes, andaflords a convenient method of carrying the towels in the wagon. The door 3 normally covers the soiled towels so that the device is not unsightly. If the towels are, hung with the clean ones at the front, the soiled towels may be thrown to the back, where they are in addition tothe door covered and hidden by'the clean supply. It willbe noted that while the clamping 'member is shown straight, it may be rocked in one direction or the other about its pivots, depending upon which side the greater number of hung. In other words,.if the dirty towels are carried at the front, as shown, the clamp: ing members will be slightly tipped, as the number of dirty towels overbalances the clean ones, facilitating the grasping and pullingover of the clean towels.

Having thusrdescribed my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish iting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zk a 1. In a device of the -kind described and in combination, a suitable cabinet, a clamping member detachably secured therein, and means for locking said clamping member in place, said clamping member comprising part having U, and the opposite end extended past the center of the first'member, a second cotiperating member having one end secured to the other'leg of said first mentioned member with the opposite end extended past the center thereof, and means for locking said cooperatingparts in operative positions.

2. The combination in a device of'the kind described of a U-shaped member provided with means at ing the same, a cooperating clamplng member arranged atone end for engagement at one side of said U-shaped member, a second cooperating part arranged to engage the other side of said -U-shaped member, one part arranged to engage with the other intermediate the ends thereof, one of said towels are to beunderstood as lim-i extending each end for supportparts provided with a slot therein and the 1:0

ing member other with an extension arranged to pass through said slot, and means for engaging said extension and locking the parts against separation.

3.111 a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable cabinet, a towel clamping member arranged therein, and means for detachably supporting said clampand locking the same in operative position, comprising a bracket secured 'to one side of said cabinet and arranged to carry one end of said clamping member,

7 and a similarly formed bracket arranged at of the cabinet, and arthe other end of said and means for locking bracket to the cabinet the opposite side ranged to engage clamping member, said last mentioned wall, comprising a lug carried by said bracket, and key-controlled means carried by said side wall for engaging the said lug.

Copies 4. The combination in adevice of the kind described of a suitablecabinet, tow'el supporting and securing means arranged therein, means for securing said securing means in place, including a plate secured to the side wall of said cabinet, said plate provided with an opening bracket having a part extending through said opening, to engage said part on theside of said plate opposite said bracket, and means for operating said locking member from the exterior of the cabinet.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. HENNING.

Witnesses: I

ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB.

the commissioner of II tQI-fii Washington, D. 0."

therethrough, a

a locking member arranged 7 

